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116 Pearl Street Then

116 Pearl Street Then
1920's Photo of Pearl Street

116 Pearl Street Today

116 Pearl Street Today
Our Museum!

Welcome To The Minden, Louisiana's Dorcheat Museum Blog

Thank you for visiting the Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum Blog. The Dorcheat Historical Museum is the only museum inside the city limits of Minden, Louisiana. The museum opened June 10th, 2008. Admission Free with donations welcomed. Our hours are, Tuesday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., closed for lunch from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., open again from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday we are closed but open by appointment for special showings and meetings. We would like to invite you to visit our location at 116 Pearl Street in Minden, Louisiana. We look forward to sharing our history with you. For more information please contact museum director Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or 318-423-0192.

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The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc.

This Minden, Louisiana Webster Parish Muesum is Funded in part by a grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission.
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Help Us Keep History Alive In Webster Parish


In return for your support, you will receive not only a tax deduction, but also, invitations to all museum activities. Please give every consideration to helping with this endeavor. Be a part of Webster Parish history by becoming a proud supporter of the Webster Parish Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum.

All contributions may be mailed to:

Dorcheat Historical Association Museum
PO Box 1094

Minden, Louisiana 71058.




Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Help Save Our History Fundraiser 2017


You Are Invited To Help Make History Happen

 

    Monday, September 11th, 2017, the Dorcheat Historical Museum will be hosting its 9th fundraising event since the 2008 opening of the parish museum. Last year the fundraiser was a huge success, and raised over $30,000.  Many locals attended that know how important the preservation of our history is to Webster Parish.

 

    Louise Baird Snook, Dorcheat Museum President complimented the following members; Becky Marvin, Janice Mourad, Cora Lou Robinson, Kay Elzen, Janet LaBruyere, Ann Harlan, Charlotte Martin, Dianne McGuire, Jo McCullough, Charlotte Jones, Mary Ann Hamilton, Lucy Adkins, and Rachel Miller.  All these ladies are museum board members and the female driving force behind the gala as well as the museum.  Not to be forgotten, for all their hard word to make everything run smoothly and the man power behind the museum are fellow board members; Marcel Vandenoord, Richard Campbell, John Agan, Dr. Roy Phillips, and Ben Baldwin.  These event organizers report that the 2017 fundraiser promises to be as exceptional as the past museum events, with the "Support Local History" theme set for this year.

 

    Guest will be thrilled with the variety of silent auction items and the great variety of wonderful cuisine. "We are so fortunate to have the support of so many people from far and wide. We are pleased with our progress and we know we couldn't do any of it without so many generous friends and supporters of the museum." stated museum director; Schelley Brown Francis.   

 

    Folk artist, Cora Lou Robinson, is in the process of painting yet another new original painting for this event. Robinson's paintings have been a highlight at the past auctions bringing in thousands of dollars each year for the museum. Everyone is looking forward to seeing her new 2017 piece.   This year the painting was to highlight the “Webster Parish Fair”, after much thought Cora Lou switched to "4th of July at Turner’s pond". “After Memorial Day I was so moved by the patriotic things I was seeing that I wanted to paint what Minden was doing..... to honor those service people that gave the ultimate sacrifice, stated Mrs. Robinson.  For those that know Mrs. Robinson and her work “God and Country, Family and Friends” are always her number one themes.  Other artists have also contacted museum board members about donating original works; and museum members are thrilled with the response to help.

 

    Museum board members commented, “We can’t have a successful event or a successful museum without the help from so many local businesses and individuals.”  If you would like to attend or donate a service or item for the 2017 Gala event contact Schelley Francis at the Dorcheat Museum  318-377-3002 or visit at 116 Pearl Street.  Cost to attend is $25 per person.  Please mail in response by September 1st, 2017.  We will be taking items for auction until Tuesday, September 5th. 

 

   Museum director Schelley Francis and museum archivist Mrs. Eddie Hammontree had the following comments to share, “The museum has had hundreds of visitors this past year from all over the country and overseas as well. The Dorcheat Historical Museum is a showplace for our area and especially our school children.  The museum has even been a place for other museum officials to gather advice and knowledge for their own museums.  Genealogy research has been a big part of what we have assisted with this year. 

 

     We have realized over the past few years that we needed to take a conservative stance on our spending to insure that the Dorcheat Museum will continue for many, many years into the future.    It took many years of hard work and perseverance to get to where we are today, we will never jeopardize that accomplishment.  Holding on to what we have built up since 2007 is the most important thing. We have had many people to be thankful for in this process.

 

      A museum is a living thing.  There will always be new and better ways to improve what we have now.  There will always be new items and history to unveil.  Every day more and more people are finding out about us.

 

      We still have many dreams for the future.  We are confident that our expansion project is something that will take place one day.  Money was raised to purchase the building in 2013.  A new roof and front were completed, as well as some items on the inside of this newest building.  We will treat this project as we did our original building project.  “We pay as we go” has always been our motto.  Plans for any renovations and upgrading of this building will take place as money is specifically raised for this long-term project. 

   

   When the Media/Theater room opened several years ago, it gave the museum an extra advantage of being able to offer the facility to others. We can now rent this part of the museum out for meetings, reunions and parties, plus we have the added benefit of the theater system for Power Point or video presentations."

 

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